London attractions
National Gallery
The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It contains over 2,300 works, including many famous works such as van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait, Velazquez’s Rokeby Venus, Turner’s Fighting Temeraire and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
Opening hours : Daily 10am to 6pm, except Friday 10am to 9pm
Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
Admission FREE
Nearest tube station : Charing Cross Station, Leicester Square Station, Embankment Station and Westminster tube
Check out the National Gallery website for more information
The British Museum
The British Museum is a museum dedicated to human history and culture.
Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG
Opening hours : 10am to 5.30pm, except Friday 10am to 10.30pm
Admission : FREE
Nearest station : Holborn (500m away)
Check out The British Museum website for more information.
Big Ben
The Big Ben is actually the nickname of the bell housed within the Elizabeth Tower, and Big Ben’s official name is the Great Bell. The Elizabeth Tower is the name of the famous tower of Parliament. Only UK residents are allowed to tour the Elizabeth Tower.
Uk residents should contact their local MP or a member of the House of Lords to arrange a tour. The tours are generally fully booked 6 months in advanced.
Check out the official website for more information.
Houses of Parliament
UK residents can arrange a tour of the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) through their local MP or member of the House of Lords. These tours are not available to overseas visitors.
Visitors from UK and overseas can book the audio tour of the House of Lords and House of Commons. This self-guided tour takes around 60 to 75 mins. Afternoon tea in the Terrace Pavilion overlooking the River Thames is a popular add-on to the tours.
Price of audio tour : Adult £18.
Alternatively, guided tours are also available. Price of guided tour: Adult £25
These tours are available on Saturdays throughout the year and on most weekdays during Parliamentary recesses including Easter, Summer and Christmas.
Check out their website for more information.
Nearest station : Westminster Station
Download the map of Westminster and Houses of Parliament here : Westminster Map-London
Changing of guards at Buckingham Palace
Changing the Guard or Guard Mounting is the process involving a new guard exchanging duty with the old guard.
At Buckingham Palace, Guard Mounting takes place at 11.30am.
At Horse Guards Arch, changing of guards takes place daily at 11am (10am on Sundays)
At Windsor Castle, changing of guards takes place at 11am
Nearest station : Victoria (15 mins walk), Green Park (10 mins walk) or St James’s Park (10 mins walk)
For more information check out this website
Tower of London
The Tower of London is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London.
Admission price : Adult £22.00; Child £10.00; Concession £17.00; Family £55.10.
Book your tickets online at a cheaper rate of Adult £21.00, Child £9.50.
The ticket includes access to the Tower and the Crown Jewels display; exhibitions including Coins and Kings and Line of Kings, plus the Yeoman Warder guided tour, live historical re-enactments, White Tower tour, children’s activity trails and much more.
The Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection and still regularly used by The Queen, include some of the most extraordinary diamonds in the world.
The White Tower is the oldest part of the Tower, built to strike fear and submission into the unruly citizens of London.
Yeoman Warder (popularly known as Beefeaters) tour is one of the most popular attraction for visitors to the Tower. The Yeoman Warders will entertain you with tales of intrigue, imprisonment, executiion, torture and much more. The tours begin every 30 mins (last tour 15.30 in summer and 1430 in winter), and last approximately 60 mins and start near the main entrance. The tour is included in the admission ticket.
Tickets purchased in advance are valid for 7 days from the date selected.
Audio guide
£4.00 – adults
£3.00 – child (under 16 years) & concessions
£12.00 – family group (up to 2 adults and 3 children)Audio guides can be pre-paid in advance when purchasing individual Tower admission tickets online.
For more information check out the official website here
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of the world’s great churches, with a history stretching back a thousand years.
Westminster Abbey is usually open to visitors from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. On Sundays and religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas, the Abbey is open for worship only. All are welcome and it is free to attend services.
Admission ticket : Adults £20, Children £9
Audio tour
Audio-guides are free with the entrance ticket which can be purchased at the North Door. The tour takes around 1 hour.
Verger Guided Tour
Verger guided tours are available in English, and limited to 20 person only. They start at the North door and last for around 90 minutes and include a tour of the Shrine, the Royal Tomb, Poets’ Corner, the Cloisters and the Nave.
Price : £5.00 per person (in addition to the entrance charge)
Nearest tube station : Westminster Station and St Jame’s Park station
Check out the official website for more information such as the service times.
Free Waking Tours
If you are interested to learn the history and interesting stories about the main attractions in London, you can join FREE walking tours
The 2.5 hour tour covers :
Buckingham Palace, Churchill’s War Cabinet Bunker, The Houses of Parliament, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column, St Jame’s Park, 10 Downing St, Horseguards and Big Ben.
Meet the guide at the corner of the Convent Garden Piazza by the Apple store. The tour run at 10am, 11am and 2pm daily.